Molecular Mechanisms of Dementia

The past decade has witnessed a revolution in the attempts of scientists to under­ stand the molecular basis of dementia. Although dementia, as defined by global cogni­ tive decline involving gradual loss of memory, reasoning, judgment, and orientation, presents most commonly in the form of Alzheimer's disease (AD), an assortment of other less common disorders, such as prion and Pick's disease, can also lead to symp­ toms that are similar to those observed in patients with AD. The primary goal o…